Every kennel in the hash is different so not only all are all of the Northeast hashes different, but all of the New England kennels, and even all of the Boston Area Hashes are different. There are ones that prefer shiggy, 6.9+ miles, r*nning under the full moom, etc. So, it's difficult to come up with an general explanation beyond that provided by Wikipedophelia.
Suffice it to say that the main tenets are:
Promoting mental and physical fitness
Shaking off weekend hangovers
Making the older members feel like they're not so old
Developing a thirst for beer
You are likely to encounter:
Running
Alcohol (mostly beer)
Childish behavior
Fun and a good time
If you have further questions, don't hesitate to reach out to a current hasher or map@northeasthashes.com
We encourage you to try a trail at a kennel that looks a-peeling. We don't bite, but you might not want to go to the ball buster trails if you're not prepared to traverse 6.9+ miles. Most kennels run trails that are 3-5mi with sufficient stops to let hashers collect themselves (and drink beer, if they're lucky).